§ Mr. KilfoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives have been provided to upgrade buses used within the Merseyside transport system. [166979]
§ Mr. McNultyUnder the LTP process, Merseyside's five year Plan and 10 year Strategy include significant investment in the development and promotion of bus services. Merseytravel are working with local bus operators to improve standards through the Quality Corridors initiative in the LTP. Corridor Q, for example, was launched in St Helens in March 2003, involving a package of bus priorities, new bus stops, information systems and low floor buses. Merseytravel have also encouraged operators to fit particulate filters to 140 city buses through an Energy Saving Trust supported programme to encourage lower vehicle emissions.